Minor Quakes in Eruption Area, Pollution Persists

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Minor Quakes in Eruption Area, Pollution Persists

Approximately 30 earthquakes were picked up by sensors in and around Bárðarbunga volcano in Vatnajökull glacier and the Holuhraun fissure eruption in the northeastern highlands since midnight. All of them were minor, not exceeding magnitude 2.0.

Most earthquakes originated below Dyngjujökull outlet glacier, at the eruption site and northern rim of the Bárðarbunga caldera. A few quakes hit near Askja, Herðubreiðartögl and Tungnafellsjökull, ruv.is reports.

An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 was measured by Bárðarbunga at around 11:30 last night, while a magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit in the same location shortly before 8:00 pm.

The Icelandic Met Office has forecast a high concentration of sulfur dioxide (SO2) coming from the Holuhraun eruption with air pollution being likely in the East Fjords today, extending north to Vopnafjörður. A larger pollution area cannot be ruled out.